Submersible pump assemblage



June 2,1970 A.B| UM 3,515,495

SUB MERS IBLE PUMP ASSEMBLAGE Filed Feb. 27, 1968 INVENTOR ALBERT BLUM United States Patent B 9 1 Int. Cl. F04d 13/02; F04b 21/00 Us. (:1. 415-126 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is essentially concerned with a submersible pump assembly wherein guide means are provided for guiding a pump into a liquid to be pumped,

such that downward movement of the pump effectively connects the pump outlet to a delivery conduit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known to those versed in the art, submersible pumps, as in waste and sewage systems, and otherwise, require examination and service at certain intervals. This presents problems in removal and replacement of the pumps, as by connection and disconnection of the pump outlet and tank delivery conduit.

SUMMARY In accordance with the teachings of the instant invention, there is proposed a unique pump assemblage wherein the above-mentioned difliculties are obviated, there being provided an extremely simple means for lowering a pump into the medium to be pumped and effecting secure and tight coupling between the pump outlet and delivery conduit, as well as reversal of this procedure to disconnect the conduits and remove the pump.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pump assemblage including a unique pump outlet conduit structure for use in the instant assemblage, which outlet conduit structure may be employed for connection to conventional delivery conduits, thereby minimizing cost and simplifying stockkeeping.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pump assemblage having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and can be economically manufactured for substantial savings in maintenance and servicing costs.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, illustrating a removal and replacement position of the pump in phantom.

FIG. 4 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1.

3,515,495 Patented June 2, 1970 ice DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a submersible pump assemblage is there shown as including an electric motor or pump drive 11, superposed on a pump housing or pump proper 12. The unitary motor 11 and pump housing 12 are suspended by a flexible line or carrier cable 13 suitably connected to the assembly, as by an eye 14 anchored to the upper end of the pump motor 11. As best seen in FIG. 3, the eye or fastener 14 is preferably connected to the upper side of the pump motor 11 at an offset location, adjacent to one edge thereof. By this location of eye 14, the pump motor and housing 11, 12 assumes a gravitational position shown in phantom in FIG. 3 upon being raised and lowered as suspended by the cable 13.

Projecting from the pump housing 12, generally tangential thereto and offset therefrom on the side remote from the cable connection '14, is an outlet conduit or pipe 16. Fixed on the outer end of the outlet pipe 16, extending peripherally thereabout, is a connection flange 15 disposed in a vertical plane generally parallel to the axis of the pump 11, 12.

Fixedly mounted by any suitable means in a receiving vessel or the like are a pair of generally vertically extending, parallel spaced guide rails 17 and 18. The guide rails 17 and 18 may each be defined by a U-shaped chan. nel, arranged in parallel spaced facing relation, the channel 17 having side walls or flanges 17 1 and 172, while the channel 18 has side walls or flanges 181 and 182. As best seen in FIG. 4, the flanges 171 and 181 of respective channels 17 and 18 are generally coplanar with each other, as are flanges 172 and 182.

Connected to the coplanar channel flanges 171 and 181 is an attachment flange 19, as by welding or other suitable fixed connection means, so that the flange or coupling element 19 has its front face flush with the inner surfaces of the channel flanges 171 and 181. The flange 19 may be generally annular, and fixedly secured to the central opening thereof is a pressure or delivery conduit 20, which extends to a delivery location (not shown).

Fixedly secured on the lower ends of guide rails or ways 17 and 18, or on the under edge of connection flange 19, are a pair of limit members or stops 21 and 22. On the outer or rear face of outlet conduit connection flange 15, extending arcuately thereabout, may be one or more cams 23 and 24, say of wedge-shaped configuration, for a purpose appearing presently.

The mounting of a pump 11, 12 requires only engagement of the outlet conduit connection flange 15 in the upper ends of guide rails or ways 17 and 18, and lowering of the pump by cable 13. The connection flange 15 is freely slidable downwardly within the guide rails or ways 17 and 18 to guide the pump 11, 12 to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 3, when the flange 15 engages the limit or stop members 21 and 22. At this time further downward movement of the flange 15 in the guide means 17, 18 is prevented, and the connection flange is constrained to rotate in the guide means, as to the solid-line position in FIG. 3. That is, upon slack in cable 13 the center of gravity of the pump assembly 11, 12 effects rotation thereof, which simultaneously engages the cams 23 and 24 with the channel flanges 172 and 182 to urge the connection flange 15' into firm facing sealed relation with the delivery conduit flange 19. If desired, any suitable gasket means may be interposed between the flanges 15 and 19.

Removal of the pump 11, 12 is, of course, effected by mere reversal of the above-described procedure. That is, tension is applied to the cable 13 to rotate the pump 11, 12 from its solid-line position of FIG. 3 to its phantom position. When in the phantom position, or approximately so, the cam means or wedges 23 and 24 have disengaged from the guideways 17 and 18 so that continued tension exerted upon the cable 13 will serve to raise the pump assembly, the connection flange 15 sliding upward in the channels 17 and 18.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a pump assemblage which fully accomplishes its intended object and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, installation, maintenance and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a submersible pump, outlet conduit extending from said pump, a flange secured to said outlet conduit, cam means carried by said flange, a delivery conduit having a receiving opening, and guide means comprising ways associated with the receiving opening of said delivery conduit, said ways receiving said flange, said pump having its center of gravity off-set from the center of rotation of said flange in said ways to gravitationally rotate said flange in the ways, and said ways being engageable with said cam means to urge the outlet conduit intosealed connection with said delivery conduit as said flange rotates in the ways.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said cam means comprising an inclined surface extending annular- 1y about said outlet conduit and engageable with said ways upon rotation of said pump to urge said outlet conduit into said sealed connection.

3. The combination according to claim 2, said ways comprising vertically extending channels slidably receiving said outlet conduit flange for guiding said pump between an upper inoperative position and a lower operative position.

4. The combination according to claim 3, in combination with upwardly facing limit means associated with said channels for limiting the downward movement of said pump.

5. The combination according to claim 4, said flange being generally circular for sliding and rotating movement in said ways, said limit means being located for engagement with said flange, and said pump having its center of gravity offset from the center of rotation of said flange in said ways, whereby said limit means engages said flange to limit downward movement thereof and said pump gravitationally rotates said flange to effect said cooperating action between said cam means and ways.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

